Inkstand



F. B. WOODHOUSE.

INKSTAND.

No. 323,249. Patented July 28, 1885.

WITNESSES IN'V EN TOR ATTORNEYS.

Nrrnn STATES ATENT FFICE INKSTAN D.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,249, dated duly 28, 1885.

Application filed January 29, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK B. WooDHoUsE, of Utica, Oneida county, New York, have invented a new and Improved Inkst-and, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to prevent waste of ink and the imperfect writing so often caused by leaving the ink-wells uncovered to admit dust, insects, or other extraneous matter.

The invention consists in an inkstand comprising an ink-well supported on a base, and an elbow-lever pivoted to standards, and connected by one arm with the cover of the inkwell, and so arranged that by resting the hand holding the pen on the upper arm of the elbowlever the ink-well cover will be drawn back, to allow the pen to be dripped intov the ink, and when the lever is released a spring acts to automatically close the cover.

The invention consists also in particular constructions and combinations of parts of the inkstand, all as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which similar letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved ink-stand, illustrating its use. Fig. 2 is an enlarged partly sectional side elevation of the inkstand, and Fig. 3 is a detail end view of the stand.

The letter A indicates the base of the stand, and B the inkwell, which, preferably, is made of glass and molded with a dovetail-shaped cavity, 1), which looks over a dovetail-shaped projection, a, fixed to the base A, to hold the ink-well down to the base and prevent the well from being pushed forward off the base by contact of the inner shoulder of the cavity I) with the end of the projection a.

O O are standards, which are fixed to the base A at or near its back end, and have open slot-bearings c c, to receive the pivots D of a bent arm or bell-crank lever, E, to the upper arm, 6, of which is or may be attached the ball F, and to the lower arm, 6, of which lever is pivoted the back end of a bar, G, on the forward end of which is formed or fastened the sliding cover H of the ink-well B.

(No model.)

A spring of any suitable kindsuch as a spiral spring, I-is attached at one end to the arm 0 of lever E, or it may be to the bar G, and at its other end to the base A. The spring acts to draw the cover H forward, to close the ink-well.

I prefer to fit the cover H to the ink-well by tongues h on the cover entering corresponding grooves around the ink-holding cavity or chamber, as shown.

I provide a stop-shoulder at J in the base A, against which the lower end of the lever E may strike, to prevent entire withdrawal or disconnection of the cover H from its slideways in the ink-well. A pin or stud projecting from the base may be used instead of the sunken shoulder J, if preferred.

As seen best in Fig. 2, the length of the pro jection and cavity a b is a little less than the back stroke of the cover, which allows the inkwell B to be slid backward, to disconnect it from the base projection, a, to refill or clean the well at any time without disconnecting the lever E from the standards 0, which could not conveniently be done if the lever was pivoted to the standards by a separate pin passing through round holes for bearings at the tops of the standards, instead of having the pivot cast with the lever in the cheaper and preferred construction shown in the drawings.

' To prevent the ink-well from being drawn backward by and with the opening cover H,

or tipped over forward by the end thrust of the closing cover H, and also to lessen the strain on the connection a b of the well B with the base A, I provide staple-like clamps K at each end of the ink-well and near its rear side, the opposite arms or ends of said clamps entering holes in the ink-well and base, respectively. The clamps K may easily be removed when the ink-well is to be taken from the base.

The operation will readily be understood by a glance at Fig. 1 of the drawings, which shows that as the hand holding the pen L reaches forward to dip the pen into the ink the hand is pressed or rested on the lever E, or its end ball, F, which instantly swings the lever downward and draws back the cover H, to allow the descending pen to enter the ink in the well, and as the hand and pen are lifted the spring I will act instantly to automatically close the cover H over the ink-cavity of the Well, and

protect the ink from dnst, dirt, or insects, and also prevent evaporation or thickening of the ink; thereby avoiding waste of the ink, and saving time which otherwise must be spent in frequently cleaning the ink-well.

The base A, standards 0, lever E, and rod and cover G 1-1 will preferably be made in cast metal, and may have any desired ornamental design and finish.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the ink-well cover, of the crank-lever pivoted to the upper ends of standards, the lower end of said lever having a pivotal connection with said cover, and the upper end of said lever forming a handrest, substantially as described, whereby, when the hand holding the pen is rested on said lever, the cover will be withdrawn or removed, as set forth.

2. The combination,with the ink-well cover, of the crank-lever pivoted to the upper ends of standards, the lower endoi' said lever being pivoted to a bar connected to the said cover, the upper end of said lever forming a handrest', substantially as and for the purpose set forth 3. An inkstand comprising an ink-Well supported on a base, a crank-lever pivoted to standards on the base, and connected with the ink-well by a bar which operates the sliding cover of the ink-well, and a spring acting to .close the cover, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in an inkstand, of a base, A, a detachable ink-well, B, held to the base by the interlocking projection and cavity a b, the crank-lever E, pivoted to standards G, the rod and cover G H, stop J, and spring I, substantially as herein set forth.

5. The combination, in an inkstand, of base A, detachable ink-well B, held thereto by the interlocking projection and'cavity a b, and re movable clamps K, the lever E, pivoted to standards (3, and the rod and cover G H, stop J, and spring I, substantially as herein set forth.

FRANK B. XVOODI'IOUSE.

Witnesses:

JOHN KINKAID, SARAH HoLLnY. 

